Pin-spotting device for bowling-alleys.



No. 887,399. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. W. JOSBPHY.

PIN SPOTTING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1907.

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animator,

Witneooe:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J OSEPHY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS K. WISSINGER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Kay 12, 1908.

Application filed Inns 6, 1907. Serial No. 377,541.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JosEPHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pin-Spotting Devices for Bowling-Alleys, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to a pin spottin device for bowling alleys and has for its object the provision of a device of this character constructed in such mannerthat when it is not in use, it may be elevated above the alley and held out of the path of the bowling balls and may when the pins are to be spotted, be lowered upon the alley to act as a guide for the pinsas they are placed in position.

Further ob'ects and advantages of the invention will e-set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

In the accompanyi drawing: Fi ure 1 is a transverse sections? view of a bowling alley, showing my improved pin spotting device applied thereto, Fi 2 is a horizontal section upon line :ca: 0 Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view upon line g of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a plan view of one o the ten-pins and a portion of the guiding frame, and, Fig. 5 is a sectional view u n line aa of Fig. 4.

Like numera s designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates the floor of the bowling alley and thenumerals 6 designate the usualgutters formed along each side of the alley. Arranged upon the outside of these gutters at the pin settin end of the alley, are the upright standar s 7. These standards are connected by a cross bar 8 at the top and are channeled as at 9 (see Fig. 2) for the reception of vertical bars 10, said bars being slidably disposed in said channels. These bars are connected by a cross bar 11 and are se-' cured at their lower ends to a frame 12. A

' cord 13 is secured to the cross bar 11 and i passes over a pulley 14. This cord carries at its 0 posite end-a handle 15, said cord and handie rovidin means for elevating the frame alibve theiowling alley after the pins have been spotted. i Cords 16 are secured to the cross bar 11 and sli bars 10 and pass over pulleys 17. Counterba ancing weights 18 are secured to the ends of these cords, said weights serving l to counterbalance the frame 12, as will be readily understood, the weights being arranged to maintain the frame in an elevated osltion', after the o erator' elevates said rame by means of the handle 15 and cord 13.

It is in the construction of the frame 12 that the present invention articularly resides. This frame is rovi ed with artitions 19 which divide it into a lurahty of bottomless pockets 20, these poclEets serving to guide the pins upon the spots when the pins are being placed in position and said ockets being of such size that when the rame is elevated, it will slide up over the pins without carrying the pins with it.

I am aware of the fact that a number of devices have been provided which are adapted to grip the pins in these pockets and to deposit tie pins upon the spots and to then release said pinsand move away without elevating the pins, but it has been found that this is an expensive and complicated manner of constructing these devices and that the are constantly getting out of order and fa l to release the pins at the pro er time. I do not contemplate, therefore, aving the pins gripped by my setting frame, but upon the contrary, said frame merely serves as a guide for the pins when they are being placed in position.

The size of the pockets 20 ma be varied by diagonal corner stri s 21. T iese corner strips are carried by s otted plates 22 and screws 23 pass through slots 24 of these plates and provide means for binding the diagonal members 21 in any ad'usted position. It is a well known fact that bowling pins rapidly become battered out of shape and it is to adjust the sizes of the pockets 20, that these diagonal corner strips are provided. Additional pockets 25 are provided in the frame 12 for carrying pins indicated at 26.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to spot the pins, the pin boy grasps the frame and draws it down upon the alley. He then places the pins in the pockets 20, these pockets serving to exactly center the ins upon the spots. It is important that t iese pins be placed exactly in the right position, for if they are not so laced, it is impossible for the player to iznock all of the pins down with a single ball. It is a well known fact that in bowling, two balls are rolled for each frame. In many instances the player knocks down only a portion of the pins with the first hall. The pin hoy in spotting the pins must reach farther to spot what is known as the head pin, than in spotting an of the other pins. For this reason the oc ets are provided.

it is desirable that the pin boys be enahled to spot the pins not only with precision, but with rapidity. If therefore the layer knocks down four of the ins with the rst hall, the pin looy may Whi e he is waiting for the p ayer to roll the second hall, pickup those four pins and place them in the pockets 25. @rdinarily more time is consumed in gathering the pins from the pit at the rear end of the alley, than in actua ly placing them on the spots. By providing the extra pockets 25, the time ordinarily spent by the in boy in idleness While waiting for the p ayer to roll the second hall, may be utilized in icking up the pins and placing. them in tie pockets 25. W hen therefore the frame 12 is drawn down 11 on the alle these pins are not in the pit, lint are in t e pockets 25 in such position that they may we rapidly transferred therefrom to the pockets 21 and particularly to the pockets that receive the iead pin, the two pin and the three in. The pins knocked down by. the second hall, are permitted to remain in the pit until after the pins have been removed from the pockets 25. The pins from the pockets 25 are placed as has heen before stated upon the spots farthest f om the pit. When the pin boy gets ready to place the pins from the pit u on the spots, it is comparatively easy to reac 1 the spots at the rear of the alley.

From the foregoing description, it will he seen that simple and eilicient means are herein provided for accomplishing the (ahjects of the invention, but while the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are intended, it is to he understood that the invention is not limited to the precise censtruction set forth, hut includes within its purview such changes as ina he made "within the sec e of the appende claims.

"What it claim, is:

i. in a device of the character described, the combination with a vertically movable senses 1 frame having a series of pockets formed therein adapted to register with the s ots of the lowling alley, of carrying pockets iormed in said frame and adapted to carry pins, said carrying pockets being independent of and in addition to the ookets that register with the spots of the alley, suhstantally triangular corner blocks arranged Within the pockets that register with the s ots of the alley, and means for adjusting sa d blocks toward and from the center ol the pockets.

2. In a device of the character described, lthe combination with a bowling alley, of l standards arran ed at the rear end of the alley, a vertical y movable frame mounted in said standards, counterhalancing Weights for said frame, pockets formed insaid frame and adapted to register with the spots of a bowling alley and carrying pockets also termed in said frame which are independent of and in addition to the pockets that register with the spots of the alley, substantially triangular corner blocks arranged within the pockets that register with the spcts of the alley, and means for adjusting said lBlOOlKS toward and from the center of the pockets.

3. in a pin spotting device, the combination with a vertically inovahle frame having pockets formed therein which register with the spots of the bowling alley, of slotted meinhers niovahly mounted within said pockets, and means for hinding said slotted members in their adjusted positions.

4. in a device of theeharacter lrscrihed, the ceinhination with a verticelly'mcvahle frame having series of pickets formed therein adapted to register with the spots of the howling alley, of carryirg pockets formed in said frame adapted tc carry pins, said in addition tn the pockets that register with the s mole of the alley,-and movably mounted inemliers lecated Within the pockets that register with the spots of the alley, and

carrying pockets being independent of and V means for binding said memhers'in 'theiredjusted positions.

' in testimony whereof l aihx my signature /VlLlZljiM JUSEPHY. l fitnessesz A. L. lPHELPS,

l in presence of two witnesses.

1 ii. Clint S'roiicrrron. 

